Lake Tahoe 2020 Trip

 So statistically I can see three of ya have peaked at my last two blogs each; but can't see who.  Seriously, surprised anyone did after 6 years gone.  But if you like travel or home improvement - stick around.  Or if you're just a voyer filled with boredom in these times of covid - HI! But feel free to say hello or ask a question if one pops in your head.  Upcoming hopeful home project - If hubs gets a bonus in March (and lets be honest, that's a big old IF with this economy) then I'll be documenting us finishing out basement.  Hell, we might sell some stocks or win in Vegas in April in order to do it.  But for now, another look back at travel. This time at our Lake Tahoe trip we took this July.  

I'll start off by saying that I've said for YEARS that Lake Tahoe is the prettiest place in the continental United States.  And that's with only having been there for 4-24 hours at a time over 3 trips.  I first saw it on a family trip when I was 17.  My brother and I had a snow ball fight on the fourth of July on top of the mountains in the morning, and in the afternoon I had a swimsuit on and was dipping my toes in the lake.  We left the next morning on our way to Yosemite.  But less than 24 hrs there and I knew - it's my kind of place.  I don't know what it is about a lake in the mountains that does it for me but really to me there is hardly anything else as beautiful.  So when Jeff was still bowling in national competitions, I had a chance twice to go with him to Reno; and then convince him to take one afternoon or day to drive the hour over to the lake and do the loop.   But that's as much as I'd spent...only hours.  

Well thanks to Covid and the travel industry taking a total nose dive, places have been giving up great offers.  And since we're gamblers, one of those companies is Caesars.  Since we're Diamond members, they sent Jeff an offer for 4 free nights at Harrah's Lake Tahoe and half off flights (and the flights were already cheap!).  

Now here is when I'll lay out my personal feelings on traveling during covid (obviously everyone if different and your comfort level is your own but here's mine)- I will not go somewhere that has an over 10% positivity rate.  I will only travel to places with a mask mandate, I will only travel to places where eating establishments either make you sit outside or have limited dining inside to 50% or less with over 6 feet and the staff has maskes.   Illinois has adopted more than these and I have lived with it since Mid March 2020 so I'm sure that's where I get my views.  Because I can look north to Wisconsin who has not had these measures in place and constantly has a positivity rate over 30% for MONTHS.  And I can look to Indiana, and they too have had north of 25%.  But Illinois? In July and Oct when we traveled ours was between 3-4%.  It's currently at 7%.  Yes the spike after Thanksgiving & Christmas we went up to as high as 14% and have slowly cut that in half and I expect in the next month we'll be back to 3-4%.  And you can bet your boots I stayed home that entire time except to grocery shop.  When not on vacation, we have only eaten out twice this whole time, both times outside.  So anyway, I just want people to know we're not anti-maskers. Far from it!  But we also didn't hide away from life.  I wish that everyone felt this way but it is what it is.  

OK, so I had like just 3 weeks from accepting this trip to plan and research.  I looked daily at county covid numbers, poured over things to do, etc.  And came up with a small list while keeping expectations low due to the pandemic.  Below is the trip report I wrote on Trip Advisor with extras and pics thrown in. 

I had new masks for each day as well as plane rides, 3 travel size hand sanitizers and clorox wipes. The airports were fairly empty & took less than 10 mins to get thru security at both O'Hare Chicago & Reno (probably the only time in my life that's going to happen at O'Hare!). But the planes themselves for the limited number of flights were fairly full and on a return flight someone did get kicked off after we taxied to the runway for (we assume) non compliance with mask.

Stayed at Harrah's in Stateline Wednesday thru Sunday and it was not crowded except for Friday & Saturday nights after 7pm. Only real issue was occasionally trying to catch an elevator down with 4 people or less (required for social distancing) but never waited for more than a few mins for second or 3rd elevator.

Breakfast spot

First day there we just stuck to the casino area once we checked in.  Next morning we walked down to the lake and had breakfast outside facing a beach park.  

  

Our yacht LOL

Thursday night we did the Harrah's Tahoe Star yacht cruise (if you're a diamond member you get 2 free tickets). Due to covid once a travel group reserves, it's yours alone. So private cruise to Emerald Bay! Amazing! It was a 90 min cruise out to the Bay and back, box dinner provided (sandwhiches, chips, fruit cup, etc) apparently they usually have a small buffet but again - covid roll with it!  And because it was just us two, the captain and the bartender left us alone on the deck except to take one photo or refresh drinks.  So this is how it must feel to be really wealthy!  Wouldn't mind winning the lottery to live like that haha.  

Vikingsholm close up

The little tea house on top the island 

Picture the captain took of us and Vikingsholm

Look how happy we are on a boat :)

Sand Harbor

Friday we rented a car from Budget to drive around the lake. Stopped at Sand Harbor at 845am; got one of the last parking spots as when we left at 915 the gates in where already closed to incoming traffic. We are not beach folks, just walked around the paths for photos for 30 mins but the beach itself looked crowded so if we had wanted to stay that would have concerned me.

Mr. Juice's must-do was to stop at Squaw Valley Olympic village for late breakfast. He's a Olympic fan (always gets these questions right on Jeopardy). It was perfect as it was practically deserted.  Absolutely gorgeous area. On the way saw tons of people rafting on Truckee river.

Couldn't stop at Emerald Bay pull off unless we wanted to wait for parking. But since we had seen it on previous trips, and saw the previous night from the lake we moved on. If you are looking to go I'd suggest very early morning on a non Fri/Sat/Sun but know that tours of Vikingsholm interior and kayak rentals are closed due to CV19. This was one thing I was fairly disappointed in (the fact that it was closed, as I really wanted to do a 1 mile hike down to Vikingsholm and then kayak out to the island and climb around.  But once we found out the tours and kayaking was closed, and we got the cruise - well it all worked out.  But if we ever go again, this is going back on the list!

Saturday we went to Heavenly Mountain to ride up the gondola. Got in line at 910am for ticket opening at 930 and were 6th group in line. Line was really long by 930. Each gondola is per travel group for precautions and smelled strongly of disinfectant. Jeff has a fear of heights (I do to some extent as I learned looking over the edge at the Grand Canyon last year but I was fine on the Gondola.  Jeff however was not and said, never again! LOL)  On the way down they were loading every other one I think to start cleaning in between (is an employee hoping on to clean as it rotates?)

Atop Heavenly Mountain

Panoramic view from Gondola

Our final night we had dinner in a restaurant on top of Harvey's with this view.  I mean seriously? Does it get better than this looking out at the sunset?

Dinner view at Sunset on top of Harvey's

Cocktails & crab legs, with this view! Don't mind if I do!

All restaurants were either well spaced (Nevada) or spaced and outdoor or takeout only (California). Many with QR code for phone menus or paper menus trashed after use.  We felt fairly safe, avoided people and were still able to have a beautiful trip.  We had a limo ride back to the airport, shared only with one other couple (a former Football player for the Jaguars who regaled who went to college and played with one of Jeff's second cousins at Perdue.  He told us the most wild stories of injuries and mishaps.  

Limo back to reality, but one last cocktail!

Overall it was a fantastic time away from the insanity that was 2020.  Of course, one couldn't totally escape it all with constantly wearing masks, but out in nature here and there with no one in site, it was like we were the only people on earth.  Worth it!  Sadly, the last conversation I had with my dad was two days after we got back on Tuesday .  He wanted to hear all about it.  The next scheduled call was Sunday, but he had his heart attack that morning and never regained consciousness.  So any relaxing I had gotten from the trip was over.  But at the same time, I am so glad I had that trip not just for the trip itself, but my dad was no longer able to travel and loved to live vicariously thru hearing our adventures.  He seemed to love to hear the tale of this trip.  And I got to have that one last phone call because of it.